Welcome your 2018 STANSW Council Members( continued)
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Welcome your 2018 STANSW Council Members( continued)
Kylie Hurd Macquarie University: Junior Science Academy Role: Councillor
Your role at work including the expertise you bring to STANSW: I’ m keen to play an active role in STANSW as a representative of primary teachers and early-career teachers. I believe my experiences in the marketing field prior to undertaking teaching, as well as my more recent school-based experience, will prove useful to furthering the aims of STANSW.
What do you hope to contribute to STANSW Council in 2018( and beyond): I’ m a newcomer to the teaching profession, having recently begun my second career. I started the Junior Science Academy at Macquarie University with a small group of recent graduates, like myself, four years ago. I now coordinate the program every school holidays for around 500 children each period.
Cherine Spiro Fairvale High School Role: Councillor
Your role at work including the expertise you bring to STANSW: I am currently the Head Teacher Science / STEM and am based in a large school of 1450 students, low socio-economic comprehensive high school in South Western Sydney. I also run a science network and virtual college in excellence in Science and Mathematics for the NSW Department of Education called Lachlan Macquarie College. I have been a Councillor of STANSW since 2017. My passion in education is developing teachers to be future-focused and challenging them to diversify their teaching to ensure student outcomes are met in all aspects of education. I lecture and tutor in the School of Education at Western Sydney University, a role I have undertaken since 2011. I strongly believe in educating students, not only to enhance their science but also to strengthen their ability to survive in a constantly changing society by upskilling their STEM and everyday-life skills.
Interesting facts about yourself: I was awarded ' Highly Commended ' in the Prime Minister ' s Excellence in Science teaching( Secondary) in 2016 and 2017. I was a finalist in the 2017 Commonwealth Teaching Awards. I was awarded a Western University partnership award in 2014.
What do you hope to contribute to STANSW Council in 2018( and beyond): As a network coordinator, I feel that my contacts and partnerships across the science and education community would benefit STANSW. I strongly believe in collaboration between all associations, regardless of system, as we are all in it for the same reason – improving teaching and learning practice for the benefit of our core business – students.
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